For Susannah Calhoun, her differences are also her greatest strengths. As a congenital amputee, she was inspired to overcome the challenges she faced and pursue a future in science, an interest first sparked in high school and culminating in her PhD.

Tarek Khader’s family is his inspiration. By becoming a doctor, he honors his parents’ sacrifices as Palestinian refugees, striving to become the kind of caring physician he would have wanted for his mother when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

With their education behind them, the graduates will now embark on their residencies, postdocs, fellowships and other phases of their careers. But no matter where they go or what they do, Dr. Choi said, they need to remember what inspired them to pursue careers in medicine and science, and hold true to those ideals.

Weill Cornell Medicine celebrated a successful match, with 94 percent of the class matching to postgraduate positions at academic medical centers ranked in the top 50 by U.S. News and World Report. Students cheered, cried and clapped as they celebrated together in Griffis Faculty Lounge.

For Weill Cornell Medicine, 1998 was a banner year. Amid its centennial celebration, the academic medical institution renamed itself in deep appreciation for Joan and Sanford I. Weill and their exemplary leadership, launching a bright, new era of dynamic expansion.